Global March For Elephants and Rhino

It’s a
trans-national business that funds terrorist organisations,
fuels conflict in Africa, and poses environmental,
development and security challenges. The illegal wildlife
trade is also a lucrative business, generating an estimated
USD$20 billion per year.

At the launch of the United for
Wildlife “#WhoseSideAreYou” campaign, in June this year,
HRH Duke of Cambridge said, “There are two thousand
critically endangered species on the verge of being lost
forever. It’s time to choose a side – between the
endangered animals and the criminals who kill them for
money. I am calling on people all around the world to tell
us: whose side are you on?”

The answer will be loud and
clear from the thousands of people in over 100 cities
worldwide joining the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos
(GMFER), including Auckland and Wellington on Sunday
5th October this year. English comedian, actor and
producer, Ricky Gervais has voiced his support of the GMFER
event, saying "How can we allow the extinction of 2
magnificent creatures for the sake of the some morons owning
tasteless trinkets or trying fake medicine."

Also in
support of the GMFER event, Joanna Lumley, OBE and Fellow of
the Royal Geographical Society, says "If we stand by and
watch the brutal extinction of rhino and elephant, the stain
of shame on our human consciousness will never be forgiven
or forgotten."

The organisers of the grass roots event say
that, “only a truly global response will stop our globally
iconic species being sold into extinction,” explaining,
“World Animal Day this year must focus on action -
individuals, peoples, governments - all of us must act to
end the vile trade in endangered species.”

Officially
acknowledged by United For Wildlife as an event that will
raise awareness about the challenges facing the world’s
wildlife, GMFER organisers hope the event will also help to
reduce demand for endangered species ‘products’ and will
be pushing for governments to ban all commercial trading of
endangered wildlife and to put an end to wildlife
trafficking.

“Individuals, and society as a whole, can
choose to shun ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones as
commodities,” say event organisers, “but we need
governments to play their part too, by increasing penalties
for bribery, corruption and trafficking offenses, and by
shutting down all retail outlets and ivory carving
factories, for example.” The GMFER event will also call on
governments to publicly destroy their stockpiles of illegal
wildlife products, to show “zero tolerance for illegal
trading”.

In Africa four elephants are illegally killed
for their ivory every hour, and estimates are that between
only 300,000 to 500,000 survive today. Illegally killed for
their horn, it is estimated that less than 22,000 African
rhino now remain. As for the ‘king of the jungle’, more
lions survive now in captivity, where they are bred for
petting then hunting, than roam in the wild.

Their path to
extinction is very clear and the culprit is well understood.
“Ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones continue to be
sold to feed a relentless and growing demand, largely in
Asia, where the body parts of these endangered animals are
still viewed as highly sought after products,” explain the
GMFER event organisers.

The ivory and rhino horn trade is
particularly cruel and gruesome, not only do poachers
indiscriminately slaughter adults, babies or whole herds
alike, but often hack off an elephant’s tusks or rhino’s
horns while they are still alive. “When it comes to
choosing between saving the elephant, rhino and lion from
extinction or slaughtering them for some mythical medicinal
property or want for an expensive carving, we’ve made our
choice,” GMFER event organisers say.

Don’t stand on
the sideline, “Whose side are you on?” Find a march near
you:

The Government has approved a negotiating mandate for Trans-Pacific Partnership 11 (TPP11), which will ensure New Zealand businesses remain competitive in overseas markets.

Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand will be pushing for the minimal number of changes possible to the original TPP agreement, something that the remaining TPP11 countries have agreed on. More>>

.

As a desperate Turnbull government tries to treat the Barnaby Joyce affair as a Pauline Hanson fever dream – blame it on the foreigners! We’re the victims of the dastardly New Zealand Labour Party! – our own government has chosen to further that narrative, and make itself an accomplice. More>>

Wellington City Council is partnering with the University of Otago, Wellington, to launch a voluntary Rental Warrant of Fitness for minimum housing standards in Wellington, Mayor Justin Lester has announced. More>>

“The Crown acknowledges Moriori was left virtually landless from 1870, hindering its cultural, social and economic development. The Crown also acknowledges its contribution to the myths that the people of Moriori were racially inferior and became extinct." More>>

ALSO:

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy is in Geneva and has asked a United Nations committee to urge the New Zealand government to initiate an inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse of children and disabled people held in state institutions. More>>

The commitment was signed this afternoon by the leaders of Labour, United Future, The Maori Party, and the Green Party and, together with the earlier commitment by New Zealand First, means that there is now a Parliamentary majority behind the families’ fight for truth and justice. More>>